The Ruff Report: Dogs and Health

Saturday

Apr 20, 2013 at 11:20 AMApr 20, 2013 at 7:08 PM

Get pets ready for invasion of blood-sucking insects

As if you and your dog don't already have enough trouble fending off fleas, ticks and other insects; now scientists predict that problems with blood-sucking pests that can infect your pet with many diseases will get a lot worse in the upcoming years.

The population of these pests is expected to surge and pet parents in many locations - even colder climates - will have to deal with them for more months of the year and in some cases year-round.

Story continues below----------------------------------------------------------------------

A book about a rescue dogthat will touch your heart THE HUNT OF HER LIFE, a nicely designed full-color premium book by newspaper journalist and MySetterSam.com publisher Joseph A. Reppucci, is must reading for animal lovers of all ages. It has 60 color photos of dogs to illustrate the compelling family story of Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog adopted at age 2 by the author. While reading the The Hunt of Her Life, you will travel with Samantha and the author along a trail filled with surprising twists, sudden turns, mystery and even what some call a miracle. The vibrant color photos are carefully positioned throughout the book so you can see images of Samantha and other dogs as you are reading about them, making you feel like you are right there with them! And when the journey is finished, you may never look at people and their pets, motherhood - and perhaps even God - in the same way. THE HUNT OF HER LIFE will take you on a captivating journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.

Available at:MySetterSam page at Createspace.com, the book's publisher. Createspace.com is a division of Amazon.com.Also find it on: Amazon.comLike it on: Facebook/thehuntofherlifeJoin us on: GoodReads.com

CLICK HERE TO LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Story continues hereThe warming of the world's climate could have dire consequences for dogs, making them more vulnerable to lethal pathogens spread by insects, scientists warn.

Hotter summers and milder winters are causing the appearance of new parasite-borne illnesses and spreading existing diseases usually only found in hot climates to colder parts of the United States, Europe and Asia, experts say."The warmer weather and milder winters that we have been observing in many parts of the world have meant that dangerous parasites are active for longer periods during the year," Tomas Molina, vice chairman of the European Association of Broadcast Meteorologists, said during the recent the 4th Symposium of the CVBD (canine vector-borne disease) World Forum in Seville, Spain."For example, sand flies, which transmit leishmaniosis, become more abundant as the climate warms. This, consequently, increases the risk of disease being transmitted from parasite to animal," Dr. Molina said.Scientists issued a plea for dog owners to be more vigilant about protecting their pets and themselves from diseases spread by blood-sucking parasites, according to a media release from the Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Division.Dogs are particularly vulnerable to attack from parasites - such as ticks, fleas, sand flies, stable flies and mosquitoes - which are capable of transmitting dangerous pathogens. Some pathogens may lead to severe diseases in the dog, and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, may in some cases be lethal, the scientists said."Ongoing climate change, as well as the increased movement of dogs through travel and importation, has enabled the wider spread of infectious agents, with ticks, fleas and mosquitoes now finding niches in new countries," Dr. Xavier Roura of the veterinary teaching hospital at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, said at the symposium. "Pet owners need to understand the severity of diseases such as leishmaniosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, hepatozoonosis and Lyme disease, and do what they can to treat and prevent them."Dr. Roura is urging pet parents to take measures to protect their companions from parasites.

"It is important they are aware of how to best safeguard dogs from any increased health threats," he said. "Preventative measures that not only kill parasites but also repel them before they bite the pet appear to currently be the most effective choice to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, helping to protect the health of pet and owner."Margaret Fairhurst, an official with Bayer Animal Health, cites the importance of studying the potential future impact of parasite behavior on animal and human health.

More reports about dogs and flea, tick and insect control:

Pet deaths prompt tougher EPA rules for flea, tick itemsUse of flea, tick products a must despite pet deathsStop ticks from dogging - or killing - your petYour dog may have you sleeping with thousands of fleasMore reports about dogs and health

"Through ongoing research and the accumulation of our scientific knowledge in animal health, particularly in parasitology, we will be better equipped to identify new disease threats and quickly work to effectively address them," she said.

As if you and your dog don't already have enough trouble fending off fleas, ticks and other insects; now scientists predict that problems with blood-sucking pests that can infect your pet with many diseases will get a lot worse in the upcoming years.

The population of these pests is expected to surge and pet parents in many locations - even colder climates - will have to deal with them for more months of the year and in some cases year-round.

Story continues below----------------------------------------------------------------------

A book about a rescue dogthat will touch your heart THE HUNT OF HER LIFE, a nicely designed full-color premium book by newspaper journalist and MySetterSam.com publisher Joseph A. Reppucci, is must reading for animal lovers of all ages. It has 60 color photos of dogs to illustrate the compelling family story of Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog adopted at age 2 by the author. While reading the The Hunt of Her Life, you will travel with Samantha and the author along a trail filled with surprising twists, sudden turns, mystery and even what some call a miracle. The vibrant color photos are carefully positioned throughout the book so you can see images of Samantha and other dogs as you are reading about them, making you feel like you are right there with them! And when the journey is finished, you may never look at people and their pets, motherhood - and perhaps even God - in the same way. THE HUNT OF HER LIFE will take you on a captivating journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.

Available at:MySetterSam page at Createspace.com, the book's publisher. Createspace.com is a division of Amazon.com.Also find it on: Amazon.comLike it on: Facebook/thehuntofherlifeJoin us on: GoodReads.com

CLICK HERE TO LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Story continues hereThe warming of the world's climate could have dire consequences for dogs, making them more vulnerable to lethal pathogens spread by insects, scientists warn.

Hotter summers and milder winters are causing the appearance of new parasite-borne illnesses and spreading existing diseases usually only found in hot climates to colder parts of the United States, Europe and Asia, experts say."The warmer weather and milder winters that we have been observing in many parts of the world have meant that dangerous parasites are active for longer periods during the year," Tomas Molina, vice chairman of the European Association of Broadcast Meteorologists, said during the recent the 4th Symposium of the CVBD (canine vector-borne disease) World Forum in Seville, Spain."For example, sand flies, which transmit leishmaniosis, become more abundant as the climate warms. This, consequently, increases the risk of disease being transmitted from parasite to animal," Dr. Molina said.Scientists issued a plea for dog owners to be more vigilant about protecting their pets and themselves from diseases spread by blood-sucking parasites, according to a media release from the Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Division.Dogs are particularly vulnerable to attack from parasites - such as ticks, fleas, sand flies, stable flies and mosquitoes - which are capable of transmitting dangerous pathogens. Some pathogens may lead to severe diseases in the dog, and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, may in some cases be lethal, the scientists said."Ongoing climate change, as well as the increased movement of dogs through travel and importation, has enabled the wider spread of infectious agents, with ticks, fleas and mosquitoes now finding niches in new countries," Dr. Xavier Roura of the veterinary teaching hospital at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain, said at the symposium. "Pet owners need to understand the severity of diseases such as leishmaniosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, hepatozoonosis and Lyme disease, and do what they can to treat and prevent them."Dr. Roura is urging pet parents to take measures to protect their companions from parasites.

"It is important they are aware of how to best safeguard dogs from any increased health threats," he said. "Preventative measures that not only kill parasites but also repel them before they bite the pet appear to currently be the most effective choice to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, helping to protect the health of pet and owner."Margaret Fairhurst, an official with Bayer Animal Health, cites the importance of studying the potential future impact of parasite behavior on animal and human health.

More reports about dogs and flea, tick and insect control:

Pet deaths prompt tougher EPA rules for flea, tick itemsUse of flea, tick products a must despite pet deathsStop ticks from dogging - or killing - your petYour dog may have you sleeping with thousands of fleasMore reports about dogs and health

"Through ongoing research and the accumulation of our scientific knowledge in animal health, particularly in parasitology, we will be better equipped to identify new disease threats and quickly work to effectively address them," she said.